Publication Items

Wildfire Mitigation Work Continues This Spring [1]

Wildfire season has begun. Some of the areas going up in flames include the increasingly developed zone known as the wildland-urban interface, where fire risks are most apparent to people. One of the steps being taken to help reduce the hazard is fuel reduction work that thins out or removes dense tree stands, making them less prone to wildfire, or at least easier to control when they do burn.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Forests [3]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Wildfire Mitigation Work Continues This Spring [1]
Japan Nuclear Crisis: Non-Disclosure Hides Multitude of Sins [5]

As a quake-stricken Japanese nuclear plant continues to spew radiation into the environment, journalists and people across the world are getting an unwelcome lesson in how secrecy can threaten people's health and safety. A New York Times team finally on March 16 did the story on the withholding of information. Read their coverage, as well as others.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [6]
Topics on the Beat:
Pollution [7]
Energy & Fuel [8]
Disasters [9]
Region:
Asia [10]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Japan Nuclear Crisis: Non-Disclosure Hides Multitude of Sins [5]
Some Key Sources for Reporting on Nuclear Issues [11]

Here you'll find links to Japanese News Agencies; International News Sources; International and National Nuclear Agencies; Nuclear Industry Trade Groups; and Environmental, Anti-Nuclear, and Scientists' Groups
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [8]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Some Key Sources for Reporting on Nuclear Issues [11]
Upcoming Decisions on US Nuclear Program [12]

Will the newly budget-conscious GOP-dominated 112th Congress fund all the nuclear loan guarantees currently available or in the pipeline? Signals from the Obama administration — even after the Japan meltdown — are that it will push forward with its nuclear plans, despite budget deficits and safety perils.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [8]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Upcoming Decisions on US Nuclear Program [12]
"Japan Meltdown: Could It Happen Here?" [13]

The aging fleet of US nuclear power reactors have some technological similarities to the reactors failing in Japan. Could similar loss-of-cooling events happen at some US reactors — whether caused by earthquake, tsunami, terrorist attack, electrical outage, flooding, equipment failure, or some other problem?
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
People & Population [14]
Energy & Fuel [8]
Disasters [9]
Region:
Asia [10]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about "Japan Meltdown: Could It Happen Here?" [13]
Spy Agency To Release Trove of Satellite Photos — But Can Public See Them? [15]

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is about to release millions of feet of film containing aerial images that have been declassified. Such images have in the past been a boon to environmental research. It remains to be seen whether the contractors will charge prices that effectively prevent use by journalists and the public.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [6]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [16]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Spy Agency To Release Trove of Satellite Photos — But Can Public See Them? [15]
Safety Board Objects to Shutdown of Gulf Rig Tests [17]

According to the AP, the Chemical Safety Board, which has been monitoring the testing, wanted further tests to confirm whether a fundamental design flaw may have contributed to failure of the blowout preventer's control pods
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [6]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [9]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Safety Board Objects to Shutdown of Gulf Rig Tests [17]
Sunshine Week Focuses on Freedom of Information and "Local Heroes" [18]

Sunshine Week is spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Gridiron Club — with collaboration by a large number of coalition member groups.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [6]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [19]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Sunshine Week Focuses on Freedom of Information and "Local Heroes" [18]
Is Corporate Ghostwriting of Journal Articles a Threat to Environmental Information? [20]

Before picking up stories based on journals in the environmental sciences, reporters might pause to ask about those journals' policies on transparency and potential conflict of interest. And then ask about enforcement, and any relevant conflict declarations on the article in question.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [6]
Topics on the Beat:
Health [21]
Economy & Business [22]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Is Corporate Ghostwriting of Journal Articles a Threat to Environmental Information? [20]
Utah Governor Signs Controversial Bill Cutting Public Access to Info [23]

Former National Freedom of Information director Coalition Charles N. Davis said the bill "puts Utah in a class of one, alone in an anti-democratic zone in which the governors enjoy almost carte blanche over what information they deign to share with the rabble.”
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [6]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [19]
Region:
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [24]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Utah Governor Signs Controversial Bill Cutting Public Access to Info [23]

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